"So, from my
research, Ive noticed a few things I need you to clarify."

"Ok." Laurel
eased back into the well-padded chair. Krista had the best office furniture.
It was all designed for comfort.

"Who owns the
rights to the name blue gecko?" The attorney looked up from the
stack of papers on her desk.

"I have no idea.
I guess we all do. We came up with it shortly after starting the band. Beth
wanted to call the band salamander grotto; we liked the lizard idea, but not
the salamander. I dont remember who suggested the color, but I suggested
gecko." The bassist shrugged.

"Then no one
owns it?"

"No one, unless
all six of us do. I wasnt aware that we had shares in the band. I mean
its not a corporation or anything."

"True, and ordinarily
it would not be a problem. In this instance it is. The name has been copyrighted,
so has the symbol you use to represent it."

"Who did that?"
Laurel asked. She had a good idea though.

"One Jenna McCormick."
Krista rechecked the papers on her desk. "Apparently she did so back in March.
That means she gets a greater percentage of the bands profits. Fifteen
percent goes to your manager right off the top. Normally that would leave 21.5%
to each of you after everything else has been paid. So the net profits should
be split four ways. They arent. Ms. McCormick is earning 30%, which leaves
54% to be split between the rest of you. That equals a grand total of 18% each."

"Bitch. That
means I make $1.80 for every ten dollars we make. We gotta change that."

"Well, theres
some other things here, but I suggest we talk to your manager. First of all,
Ive filed the paperwork to register your songs, which will get them copyrighted.
As soon as your manager finds that out, youll be making all the net off
the songs minus his cut and expenses. Itll give you an edge. What do you
want to do with it?"

"What do you
mean?" Laurel was more concerned with the unfairness of it all instead of the
money.

"What I mean
is that could be an awful lot of money. I can recommend a few people to help
you invest it, you could put it in a bank and earn straight interest, but you
at least need to hire an accountant to help you manage it all." Krista looked
at her oddly. She pushed her glasses up and hit the buzzer on her intercom.
"Can you bring us some drinks please? What would you like?"

"Water sounds
good. Thanks."

"Did you hear
that, Abbey?"

"Yes, maam.
Ill be right in with it."

"Now, back to
the conversation. Your manager really should have gone over all of this with
you. I take it he didnt?"

"Not really.
He said wed have to meet with the studio attorneys as soon as the CD was
ready to ship."

"Well, they might
tell you all this. However, you do need an accountant just to keep up with taxes.
The label wont do that for you. Now, you had a signing bonus. Is there
anything you need assistance with on planning how to handle that?" She looked
up as her assistant entered. "Thank you, Abbey."

"Youre
welcome. Is there anything else I can get for you?" The assistant waited for
an answer after placing the drinks on the desk. Both of them shook their heads.
"Ill be outside if you need me."

"Do you?"

"Nope. Ive
had it wired to my bank. I plan on using it to pay part of my tuition for law
school. Unfortunately Ive just realized it wont pay for all of it.
Im only staying on with the band until I get called home." Now that she
learned the percentages, Laurel realized she had less in her bank than she thought.
"Its the rest of it I would be concerned about."

"Well, how can
I assist you?"

"I want you to
draw up a will for me."

"Ok. I can do
that." Krista turned around and pulled a form from her desk drawer. "Youre
not planning on anything are you?"

"No." Laurel
laughed. The attorney relaxed. "I just want to be prepared. I mean you hear
all those stories about buses and cliffs and stuff. Why did you think that?"

"You said you
were only staying with the band until you were called home. That can be taken
many different ways. Especially when one is talking about wills."

"I only agreed
to go on tour because I made an agreement with a friend. She advised that it
made more sense. Im only here because I cant be back in Hattiesburg
until some things are settled."

"Not illegal
I hope. Im not licensed to represent anyone in Mississippi."

"No. Its
a personal matter. My girlfriend was under the assumption that I should be here
even though I didnt want to be. She dumped me as a result. There are some
other things that need to be worked out as well. Im staying away until
she calls me home."

"Im assuming
that means she was your prospective life partner?" At Laurels nod she
continued. "And you want her to be the beneficiary?"

"Yes. Well, one
of them. I want the other to be my other roommate."

"Ok. The names?"

"Nicole Herbert
and Amanda Humphries. Amanda goes by Mandy more than anything else." Laurel
told her. "I want to make sure that if something happens my parents dont
get anything."

"Really? I would
ask you to explain that, but I do not think I have to. I did some research into
your background as well." Krista had the grace to look more than a bit contrite.

"Ah. Figured
as much. Saves me from having to rehash it." She was relieved.

"Well then heres
some other things we need to go over." Krista produced a folder full of papers.

"Great." Laurel
was anything but thrilled. "So much for sightseeing today."

"Oh, this will
only take an hour or two." Krista pushed her glasses back into their proper
place. "Well, maybe four."

"Great."

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

Ive got
the ways and means, to New Orleans

Im going
down by the River where its warm and green

The photographer
lit a cigarette and leaned back on the porch swing. It was fast becoming her
favorite place around the house, especially at night. At night, she could sit
and watch the stars without thought of what someone else might say. She kept
the porch light off so no one would see her. It helped keep the bugs away, but
it failed to keep her misery at bay.

She had yet to
find a new job. Every posting on the Internet was unappealing. She wanted to
stay in Hattiesburg or go home to Louisiana. Neither seemed possible at the
moment. She also missed Laurel worse with every day that passed. For the first
few days she thought she would make it. She thought the pain was tolerable and
the boredom bearable. It was no longer so easy.

In the week that
followed the recent changes in her work and relationship status, Nicole finished
cataloguing her photographs. Like everything else in the house, the pictures
were stored chronologically and alphabetically. The entire house had been cleaned,
from the curtains to the walls. Even the dining area in the kitchen had been
repainted. Since the trip to the bar had not helped, Nicole combated boredom
and heartache with housework. It did not ease either.

The cinema failed
to offer an escape. During each movie, she would imagine Laurels comments.
She missed the gentle companionship the bassist offered so willingly, and the
scathing commentary she gave so readily during movies. As a result, even going
to Mabels was out of the question. Ghostly shadows were present all over
Hattiesburg. Regret gave them color and life. Nicole was no longer happy there.

The new portable
phone on the porch railing rang. The Caller ID bar glowed, letting her see the
exact location of the device. She was expecting Sheryls nightly call.
Laurel no longer called. The photographer could not blame her. However, this
was a different number. The area code was from New Orleans. Giving in to curiosity,
she answered.

"Hello?"

"Nicole?"

"Phil?" She barely
recognized her uncles voice. "Whats up?"

"We need for
you to come home."

"At whose request?"

"Moms.
She wants to see you, Nicky."

"Then why couldnt
she call herself?" It did not make sense. Her grandmother would not ask her
to come home easily. "Are you sure she asked for me?"

"Yes, she did.
Shes in the hospital. It doesnt look that bad yet, but were
not sure about it. Come down in the morning and stay at the house. Well
explain everything then." He did not sound that worried. "Please, it will make
her happy. Thats all shes talked about. Kay and I had to flip a
coin to see who would get to call."

"Whats
that supposed to mean?" She was slightly confused by his tone.

"It was such
a relief to be able to call you home, that we both wanted to tell you the good
news. Bring Laurel with you, but be here tomorrow. Tell them at work its
a family emergency." Apparently Stan and Jessie had not clued their uncle into
the changes in her life.

"It will be just
me tomorrow I think. Laurel and I broke up, and I dont have to say anything
to work. I quit."

"What?" He seemed
shocked.

"Ill explain
it all down there. Ill be there tomorrow after breakfast." She promised.
She knew that he would want the full story. She also knew that it was wise to
go home. It was time to make up with her grandmother. At least that wound would
not ache any longer. She had too many holes in her heart; the lessening of one
would make a great deal of difference.

"Good, Ill
expect a full explanation then." He sounded eager to hear the news.

"As will I. Is
it alright if I bring Sheryl?" She knew she would need emotional support from
someone outside the family.

"Yeah, that will
be fine. Bring her down, shes always fun." He laughed. She knew he enjoyed
Sheryls company. "So, well see you tomorrow. Come to the house,
not the Warehouse. Melba will be very happy to see you. Shes missed you."

"Ive missed
her too." Nicole had been unable to see the housekeeper on her last visit to
the Herbert home. "Ill see you tomorrow then."

"Goodbye, Nicky."

"Later, Uncle
Phil." She stayed on the line just long enough to hear him disconnect. She waited
until the count of ten before hitting a button on her speed dial. Sheryls
answering machine picked up on the fourth ring. She left a message as asked.
As soon as she hung up, a thought struck her. She would go find the critic.
The odds were that Sheryl was at Mabels.

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

"I am not going
down into that subway. It is bad enough you hauled my ass up to the top of the
Empire State Building." BJ stopped at the sign for the subway. "I am not going
down there."

"Alright, big
man, alright. Well walk then." Laurel could tell that he was a step away
from freaking out about the subway tunnel. "Did you get those pictures developed?"

"Yeah, Ive
already mailed a set of copies to Mandy. I thought shed like to see them."
He seemed to relax the farther away from the subway station they walked. "Maybe
we should catch a cab."

"Yeah, it is
a long walk. Not as far from the hotel to the museum, mind you." She was proud
of that. Their hotel was in Times Square and she had walked the entire way to
the museum. She did however take a taxi back to the hotel.

"Jenna said something
about a facial and massage and Steve just wanted to hang out at the hotel. I
miss Beth and Charles."

"Yeah so do I.
Extraneous members of the band my ass." BJ practically snarled. "Ill have
you know I used that new computer of yours and looked that word up. They are
not unnecessary or superfluous. We need them."

"I know we do.
Harold will see his error eventually. Probably after we suck it up at our first
concert." Laurel groaned as another taxi went right past them. "Damn it. How
do you make them stop?"

"Like this."
BJ stepped in front of a taxi. Fortunately it did stop. "Yo, we need a ride."

"I guess thats
one way." Laurel commented as she climbed in the backseat.

The taxi was
an older one. The driver seemed stereotypical. He could not speak English well
and could not speak Southern at all. The only way they were able to get him
to understand where they wanted to go was for Laurel to imitate the accent Professor
Morganstern had. That seemed to work. It reminded her of the time she had to
call overseas to talk to her parents. They had been in Belgium when Jon broke
his leg. Imitating a different accent had gotten her through to their room where
her normal one had not. She thought it was more a failing of her culture than
any other. At least her father had been amused when she told him the story.

"Wow. That place
is enormous." BJ exclaimed as the taxi pulled to a stop in front of their destination.

"Yeah it is."
Laurel was in awe. She had never seen such a large toy store before.

"We should definitely
be able to find something for the kid in there." BJ watched as a man dressed
as a toy soldier opened the door for them. "Man Id hate to have his job."

"Were just
shopping for the kid?" Laurel asked as she looked around the store. She ignored
the rest of his statement. The sheer size and inventory of the store made her
wish for another head just so she could see it all.

"Oh goddess."
BJ turned from watching the toy soldier. "Where should we start?"

"That, my friend,
is a very good question." On their right was a jungle of stuffed animals, on
their left was clothing and other accessories marked with the stores logo,
and in front them was an escalator and a giant, singing clock. "Lets start
at the top and work our way down."

"Sounds like
a plan to me." He was already heading for the escalators.

Laurel willed
herself to ignore the two floors they passed on their way to the fourth and
final floor. It was not easy but she managed to resist temptation long enough
to reach their destination. BJ seemed to have as difficult a time as she. Several
times she caught him staring longingly back the way they came. She could only
laugh at him. She had been doing the same thing.

"Man, baby clothes.
What luck." BJ grumbled. The entire fourth floor seemed to be stocked with nothing
but items for newborns and toddlers.

"And we have
to walk around everything to go down. Remind me to read the store directory
first next time." Laurel began looking for the proper signs that would lead
them to the other escalator. "If before we get downstairs you hear me say the
word cute "

"Ill put
you out of your misery." BJ promised. "Were tough, we can make it through
here." He quickened his steps as they passed displays of cradles with animal
mobiles hanging above them.

"Yeah, we can
take this." She turned her head to avoid looking at the clothes for newborns.
"Aha, we made it." It was with great relief that they stepped onto the escalator
and headed for the third floor.

"Oh no, we are
not getting off on this floor." BJ blanched when the third floor proved to be
wall-to-wall dolls and pink boxes.

"I agree. Run
before it sucks us in." Laurel hurried to the next escalator.

"Now this is
more like it." BJ commented as they stepped off the escalator onto the second
floor. It was filled with what can only be called macho toys. Robots,
building blocks, action figures, train sets, remote controlled cars and trucks
were everywhere.

"Um, BJ, I hate
to point this out, but you do have a daughter. Shes only four, what can
she play with here?" She asked as her attention was drawn to the costume section.
"They didnt have any of this when we were kids." She lamented as she held
up a box containing all the accessories a young knight errant would ever need.

"Youre
telling me." BJ chose a cowboy play set. "Think we should get one each, dress
up as them and then terrorize the hotel staff?"

"Sounds like
a plan to me." Laurel picked out two different play sets. "Hey look at this."
She held up a plastic replica of a sword from a popular science fiction movie.
"En garde."

"Oh, think youre
gonna strike while my backs turned huh?" He quickly grabbed a different
colored one to defend him.

"Um, excuse me,
but we dont allow sword fighting in the aisles." A young salesman came
over to separate the two.

"We were just
testing out the merchandise." Laurel lowered her sword and wiped the sweat from
her eyes. "We wanted to make sure they performed adequately before purchasing
one for his child."

"Yeah, I hear
that a lot." The salesman took the swords from them. "Now if you dont
mind, please set a good example for the real children here."

"Shit. That reminds
me. I bought this stuffed otter in New Orleans and I left it at the Warehouse.
Oh well, I guess Nicole can burn it."

"Nah, you can
claim it later. Were you able to get through to the people at the University?"
He led the way to the jungle of stuffed animals.

"Yeah, though
now after talking to that Professor. I dont know. I applied and was accepted
to both grad school and law school. I have no idea which to choose. It seems
like Ive wanted to be a lawyer forever, but it just doesnt sit right
somehow. Oh, wow." She stopped in front of a large stuffed teddy bear. "I wonder
if they deliver?"

"Huh?" BJ half
turned from the life sized stuffed lion he was staring at. "I want one of those.
Wheres a salesperson?"

"For whom?"

"The kid of course.
And me." He answered. "Flag me down someone."

"Alright." She
laughed but did as asked.

"Can I help you?"
An elderly sales lady approached as Laurel waved a stuffed monkey by the tail.

"Yes. I have
two questions. Do you deliver and can I have that one?" BJ asked when she neared
easy conversation range.

Laurel left the
two of them to work out the details. She did manage to finish her shopping.
She picked out a souvenir t-shirt for Mandy, a large stuffed dog, and the stuffed
monkey she used as a flag to attract the salesperson. She managed to pay for
it all before BJ completely worked out the details on the delivery of his giant
lion. He did buy two smaller ones. Each was to be delivered to Mandy so she
could pass them along to the kids.

"Well, I need
to go into the office and clear some things up but then I can go. Do you want
to wait on me? Itll take about two hours."

"Yeah, we can
do that. I need to go pack anyway." Nicole almost waved the waitress away but
thought better of it. "It wont take me that long to pack, so why dont
you meet me and Danny back at my place in three hours? Coffee please."

"Yeah I guess."
Nicole laughed weakly as she let her friend up from the booth. "See ya in a
few."

"Yep. Dont
leave without me." Sheryl dropped a few bills on the table.

"We wont.
We cant if you dont leave." Danny stuck his tongue out at her.

"I get the point.
Later."

"So, what did
Phil say?" He asked once Sheryl left.

"He said grandmother
was in the hospital and seeing me would make her happy. He wouldnt tell
me anymore than that." Nicole tried to keep the worry at bay. After all they
had been through Adia was still her grandmother.

"Well maybe its
nothing. I mean she could just have a cold." He tried to remain positive.

"Yeah, but at
her age, even a cold can be serious."

"Nicole, I love
you dearly, but you worry way too much. Now, drink some coffee, lets chat,
and you can think about it when we get there ok?"

"Ok. Shouldnt
you call Aaron and tell him whats going on?" She suddenly remembered his
other half.

"I would, but
hes supposed to meet me up here anyway." Danny looked down at his watch.
"In fact, he should be here by now."

"Well, I wouldnt
worry. He probably got caught up in something at work." She almost said traffic
until she remembered they did not have much to worry about at this time of night.
She also knew only too well the last minute details that went in to publishing
a paper. "That used to happen to me all the time."

"I remember.
Man if you were later than usual, Laurel would practically be pacing. Getting
her to drink coffee didnt help much either. It just made her more wired."

"Really?" It
was news to her. Laurel never commented on it. "I know about the coffee bit
though. And man, if she got bored." She shook her head.

"Ah, did she
get constructive?"

"Destructive
is more like it." Nicole laughed. "Fortunately she always stayed away from my
photography equipment or Id have rolls of nothing but pictures of Mozart,
the car, squirrels, her bass, whatever."

"Sounds like
fond memories."

"Yeah, most of
them are." Nicole turned to flag down a waitress. The conversation was starting
to make her uncomfortable. "Those last few arent though."

"They never are,
sweetheart, they never are." He seemed to understand how uncomfortable the topic
made her. "Now then, how long are you going to pack for?"

"A week I guess.
Might as well pack for the worst." Nicole turned her mind back to the topic
at hand. "I really appreciate you coming with me."

"Thats
what friends are for, Nicole. Its the same thing youd do for me
or Sheryl." He held out his mug as the waitress finally approached. "Thank you."

"Whats
the other mug for?" Nicole asked as a third mug full of coffee was placed at
their table.

"Oh, your other
friend just pulled up. I thought Id make one trip instead of two." The
waitress smiled as she filled Nicoles cup. "Besides, the way yall
drink coffee, I should just bring over a thermos full."

"But then wed
miss your charming conversation, Wanda. We cant have that now can we?"
Danny turned on his charm. He once confided to Nicole that he enjoyed the harmless
flirting with the waitresses. He claimed it kept him in practice.

"Smooth, you
are so smooth." Wanda laughed. "Ah well, its nice to know they still make
them like they used to." She winked and retreated back to the counter.

"I dont
think they make them quite that way." Nicole commented. "At least youre
not from the same mold."

"I agree. Youre
completely one of a kind." Aaron joined the conversation. "So, it seems as if
the hermit has joined us. What brought this on?"

"Well, it seems
as if Nicole has been called home. Her grandmother is in the hospital, but we
dont know why yet, and Sheryl and I volunteered to go with her." Danny
summed up the situation quickly. Surprisingly, he said it all in one breath.

"Thats
about it. We are supposed to meet Sheryl at my house in a few hours." Nicole
discovered she did not have much information to add.

"Ah, ok then."
Aaron simply nodded. "I hope everythings ok."

"Thanks."

"Now, you wouldnt
believe the day Ive had. This should cheer you up." He launched into a
description of his day. He soon had them laughing at the antics he seemed to
always get caught up in. Nicole felt sorry for his photographer. Apparently
the man appealed to cows. According to Aaron, one cow in particular seemed attracted
to the man so much that the farmer he was interviewing had to call for help
to separate the two. "So, Ive managed to convince him to change his cologne.
Thank god for that. He bathed in some rancid stuff anyway. Maybe Ill pick
him up a bottle next time Im at the mall."

"Or he could
let his wife choose a different scent." Danny interjected mildly. "We should
let Nicole leave so she can go pack. Ill just grab a bag and be there
in less than half an hour, ok?"

"That sounds
fine. I have to stop for gas." She did the calculations in her head. She would
be pressed for time, but she could clean up any mess later. She knew she would
be back soon. "See ya in a bit. Thanks Aaron."

"Anytime Nicole.
Take care and remember that everything will turn out alright."